Volleyball Finishes Runner-Up in NYU Labor Day Invitational

New York, NY (9/3/11) – The Montclair State University women’s volleyball team finished with a runner-up performance at the NYU Labor Day Invitational at the Coles Sports Center on Saturday afternoon.

MSU (3-1), who posted 3-0 sweeps of Bridgewater State (MA) and Wentworth Tech in the first day of tournament competition, continued its dramatic play with a 3-1 victory over Brockport State College in the first match of the day.

The Red Hawks won by scores of 28-30, 27-25, 25-23 and 26-24 to win their half of pool play and remain undefeated (3-0) on the season. It’s the first time since 1998 that Montclair State has opened the season with three consecutive victories.

The sent Montclair into the championship game of the tournament against 21st-ranked and host New York University. But after playing the Violets tough in the first set, MSU suffered its first loss falling 3-0.

Montclair State fell behind 16-12 in Game 1 against Brockport, but rallied back and staved off game point five times before succumbing to the Golden Eagles.

In Game 2, MSU held a 17-12 lead, but couldn’t hold it as Brockport State came back to tie the score at 24-24. The Red Hawks then won three of the next four points for the win.

The Red Hawks held an early advantage at 13-7 in Game 3, only to watch it slowly dwindle as Brockport State fought back to knot the score at 23-23. MSU then won two straight points to give them a 2-1 lead in the match.

The final game was not unlike the previous two as the Red Hawks thought they had control with a 17-12 margin. Once again, the Golden Eagle came back and tied the game at 22-22. Montclair State closed out the match with four of the last six points.

The Red Hawks have now won seven of their first 10 games this season by a two-point margin..

Leading the way for MSU was sophomore outside hitter Marta Topor (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) and freshman outside hitterDaniella Salemo (Ramsey, NJ/Ramsey). Topor had 15 kills, four service aces and 13 digs and Salerno knocked down 13 kills and had 21 digs. Adding to the triumph were freshman setter Angela Campo (Washington Township, NJ/Westwood), who had 34 assists and three aces, and sophomore Libero-defensive specialist Kaitlyn Irwin.(Cranford, NJ / Cranford) who had 17 digs.

Salemop had five kills and four digs total as Montclair State battled NYU to a 21-21 tie in the first set. However, NYU got three straight kills to take control and a Montclair error to finish off the set as the Violets took a 1-0 lead.

In the second set, NYU rattled off nine straight points en route to a 25-11 win before closing out the match with a 25-15 victory in the third set.

Campo had nine assists for MSU while Irwin recorded 10 digs.

Topor and Sara Girgus (Green Brook, NJ / Watchung Hills) were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Montclair State returns to action on Wednesday, September 7 as they travel to New Paltz for a 7:00 pm match with the Hawks.